I Can't Give You This Rose
My first time watching (and even realizing that people enjoyed watching) The Bachelor took place Spring of my freshman year at UNC. It was the 22nd season and Arie was the Bachelor. I found him annoying and the show daft, but yet, every Monday I pranced down the hallway to tune in with my friends. It was a social thing for me, and still is.
Aside from watching The Bachelor & The Bachelorette as a means of spending time with friends and making Mondays a bit less dreadful, I find that one of the most entertaining parts of watching the show is attempting to separate reality from production.
Last Spring I came across a BuzzFeed article that unearthed many behind-the-scenes details about The Bachelor that left me astonished and wanting to know even more. Based on my research, I’ve listed below the top 5 “secrets” that stood out to me the most.
1. Clothes with stripes, checkered or giant patterns, or just solid white are not allowed.
I guess this makes sense for aesthetics, but is something I had never considered. Apparently this rule is standard for many television shows. Time for a closet clean-out!
2. Speaking of a closet clean-out, the majority of contestants spend thousands on their wardrobe.
Imagine spending upwards of $10,000, just to get kicked off in the early rounds. There is the option of borrowing from friends or receiving free clothes from brands in exchange for publicity; but, due to the nondisclosure agreement between the show and the contestants, many brands will not agree to give away freebies without knowing for what they will be used.
3. There is a LOT of alcohol involved.
Not only is there not a limit to the amount of alcohol consumed, drinking is encouraged. The show gets more viewers when there’s more drama and what better way to cause emotional wrecks than an endless supply of alcohol?
4. On the same page as emotional wrecks, the one-on-one interviews are scheduled based on each contestant’s menstrual cycle.
That’s right, the producers track their cycles and schedule the interviews when each female is most likely to be hormonal and emotional. The interviewers go in with a goal sent by the producers and they will do whatever they need — shots of tequila, comforting hugs — to spark some emotions. Can you say manipulative?
5. The food on dates goes uneaten.
Food stuck in teeth. Sauce smudged on face. Gross chewing. No one wants to watch people stuff their faces with food. Especially with those HD video cameras that capture every single angle imaginable. Instead, room service is brought to them beforehand and eaten as they get ready for the date. I had to laugh at this week’s episode, when sitting on the table during a one-on-one date was not just one, but two, cheese boards. Absolutely untouched. Y’all gonna share?
The current season of The Bachelor, for whatever reason, has heightened my curiosity even more regarding the producers’ involvement. Matt James is a very respectable, polite and kind-hearted man with strong morals, and there have been a few instances where I’ve felt that his actions aligned more with the producers’ best interests than his own.
Continue reading to see if you know the answers to two questions I have about the producers' involvement in Matt's season.